Berkley Ironsilk Monofilament

[Green Trout]

Anyone try this line? If so, is it sensitive?

[.ghoti.]

I bought one spool when it first hit the market. It was on a reel for one day. I stripped it off and threw it all away. As far as sensitivity goes, I don't recall noting that aspect, one way or the other. I do remember it was a lot more iron than silk.

[Felix77]

I *just* bought a spool to try this out.  17lb.  Hoping I don't have the same experience as .ghoti.

[Bluebasser86]

I tried the first run several years ago, it was awful. So stiff I wouldn't have used it for catfish. I've heard the new stuff is much better, but I'll wait for some reviews before I'd try it again. 

[smalljaw67]

Anyone try this line? If so, is it sensitive?

 

The only line that is going to add sensitivity to your set up is one with little to no stretch so most monofilament and some fluorocarbons aren't going to add much but braid will. If you want a low stretch mono that may add a little more sensitivity try Spiderwire Ultracast Ultimat Mono, I'm testing it now, and so far two things I can tell you is that it is very thin and it is really low stretch, in fact I never used a mono with this little stretch, whether it adds sensitivity or not is hard to say. My advice to you is simple, don't worry about line to add sensitivity to your outfit, if you are truly concerned about it then either go to braid or find a more sensitive rod, most mono isn't going to add sensitivity and even if it did it would be so little that you wouldn't even notice anyway.

[Fishes in trees]

In my opinion, 17 or 20 lb Berkley Iron Silk is the best rattle trap/square bill/ spinner bait line out there.  I'm talking half ounce baits here,  I don't throw that many traps/square bills/spinner baits under a half an ounce.

 

It is so abrasion resistant, I've thrown square bills around sunken thorn trees all day and never bothered to re-tie.  That being said, it isn't without its issues.

 

It does have memory issues.  This is solved in two ways.   One - plenty of KVD line treatment.  Two - each outing you need to break it in gradually.  Start out with shorter casts, graduate to medium distance casts and after 10 minutes or so you can let it fly and go for max distance.   Don't try for max distance right out of the box - it will most likely tangle due to the memory issues.

 

I know that it was originally marketed as a jig line - personally I think that there are better jig lines out there.

It works for me great as a medium/heavier cover reaction bait line.  If it makes any difference,  I'm using this line on a Calcutta 200 TEGT or an older Curado D.  I've owned these reels for a few years now, and they are among the few reels that don't ever get loaned out.  Adjustment is tricky on these reels, once I've got it how I like it I'm not big on other guys messing with them.

[a1712]

Are you guys discussing the New formulated Iron Silk, introduced at this years I-Cast, or the old Iron Silk? Brian.

[jtesch]

Baaaaaad!!!

[AQUA VELVA]

The packaging gives it a four star rating for spinning reels. We'll see as I just spooled up my SpIrex with 10 lb Iron Silk. If it doesn't work out I'll be going back to XL.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

10 lb on a spinning reel is a bit much unless its a 4000 size IMO

[Bluebasser86]

10 lb on a spinning reel is a bit much unless its a 4000 size IMO

Some lines you can get away with 10 but I'd tend to agree that it's pushing it on your typical bass sized reel. If it handles anything like the old Iron Silk anything over 6lb is going to be a nightmare.